Duaron Williams of Jones High enjoying life as top prospect

But it’s not the size of the mountainous Jones High offensive lineman that really stands out.

It’s his smile.

Like Williams, it is massive and hard to miss. On Sunday, he had it out on full display and for good reason.

Williams logged 45-foot power ball throw at the Nike SPARQ Combine at Lake Highland Prep, which puts him third in the nation for the event. He was originally second nationally, but Austin Gordon, a wide receiver from Bradenton Manatee eclipsed his score with a 45.5-foot throw towards the end of the event.

“I have a friend named Anthony Smith out of Texas,” Williams said. “He set the record last week in the power ball. He threw a 49. So I was trying to get over that, we have a little competition going on with that. I’m definitely going to try to do it again and get a higher rating.”

The power ball event consists of players kneeling on the ground and hurling something similar to a medicine ball as far as they can.

“I hadn’t practiced for it at all actually,” said Williams, who had a SPARQ score of the 80s, which is respectable for a lineman. “I did the SPARQ rating my freshman year and then I was a lot less athletic. I think my rating then was a 30.”

There were more than 900 high school players that participated in the combine on Sunday, making Williams’ score even more impressive. He said the attention the event can bring a recruit such as himself is undeniable.

“The exposure doesn’t hurt anyone, you know what I mean? It’s the kind of stuff that only helps you when you can play with everybody else and see what your strengths and weaknesses are,” Williams said.

Combines have been good to Williams, who is ranked No.7 on the Sentinel’s Central Florida Super 60. He has been dominant at the National Underclassman Combine, the U.S. Army All-American Combine and the Under Armour Underclassman Combine this past year.

His performances at those combines have bolstered his status as one of the state’s top offensive line prospects and he’s grateful for the opportunities to have participated in them, but it’s playing in pads that truly ignites his illuminating smile. When asked about spring football starting in May, a huge grin took over Williams’ face.

“Oh yeah, I’m real excited about that,” Williams said. “Our football season didn’t end the way I wanted to, so this season I’m coming out with a bang. As a team, we’re stacking up and this fall, expect big things from Jones High School, again.”

Jones finished 10-2 last season.

Williams is all smiles right now, but he’s going to be all business once the season starts. He plans on putting his recruitment on the backburner so that he can focus solely on football his senior year.

He has offers from USF, Temple, Ole Miss, Rutgers and UCF and he is hearing from about 60 other schools.